Hyundai Tucson facelift – 48V mild hybrid in Europe

It’s been just over two months after the facelifted Hyundai Tucson made its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), and the refreshed Honda CR-V-fighting SUV has now landed in Europe. Production begins this month ahead of the start of sales in the summer.

The big news for the Continent is the inclusion of a 48-volt mild hybrid system for the 186 PS 2.0 litre turbodiesel engine, similar to what you’d find on the also-facelifted Kia Sportage. It consists of a mild hybrid starter generator (MHSG), a low-voltage DC/DC converter (LDC), an inverter and a 0.44 kWh lithium-ion battery, and provides an electric boost of up to 12 kW (16 hp) under hard acceleration.

The MHSG also discharges the battery to reduce engine load during lighter acceleration, and recuperates kinetic energy to recharge the battery while decelerating. Hyundai estimates a seven percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions on the European NEDC cycle with the standard six-speed manual gearbox. Four-wheel drive is also fitted as standard, while a new eight-speed automatic is available as an option.

Also set to be fitted with the mild hybrid system next spring is the new 1.6 litre Smart Stream turbodiesel, which will be available from launch in 115 PS and 133 PS outputs – both coming with a six-speed manual and front-wheel drive as standard. The higher-powered version gets the option of four-wheel drive and Hyundai’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

On the petrol side, the current 1.6 litre direct-injected mill remains in either 132 PS naturally-aspirated GDI form or as a turbocharged 177 PS T-GDI. Again, the two versions get a six-speed manual and front-wheel drive as standard, with the T-GDI also available with four-wheel drive and the seven-speed DCT. All engines meet the new Euro 6c emissions standards.

As we’ve reported previously, the Tucson gets a number of upgrades inside and out to keep it fresh in its fourth year on the market. These include full-LED headlights, Hyundai’s new Cascading Grille and a more aggressive air intake design. At the rear, there are redesigned tail light graphics, a reprofiled bumper and a new exhaust muffler. Wheel options measure between 17 and 19 inches in diameter, with new designs.

Inside, the Tucson gets a new dashboard design that is reminiscent of its new Kona and Santa Fe siblings, with a “floating” infotainment screen – a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility – and horizontal instead of vertical air vents. Buyers can specify a 3D navigation system with a larger eight-inch screen, as well as a Krell premium sound system and a Qi wireless smartphone charger.

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

You can either post as a guest or have an option to register. Among the advantages of registering is once a name has been registered, a guest cannot post using that name. If you have an account, please login before commenting. If you wish to have a profile photo next to your name, register at Gravatar using the same e-mail address you use to comment.